The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH), a nationwide training and advocacy organization for workers and families, is accepting nominations for its “Dirty Dozen” list of employers who fail to provide safe conditions for their workers.

“We’re looking for employers who are putting workers and communities at risk because of unsafe practices,” said Jessica Martinez, co-executive director of National COSH. “Unfortunately, there are plenty to choose from. Thousands of U.S. workers die on the job every year and millions more are injured.  Most – if not all – of these tragic events can be prevented when workers are free from retaliation and are empowered to recognize, report and remediate workplace hazards.”

Nominations can be submitted online at: tinyurl.com/WhosDirty2018 until Monday, March 5. The final “Dirty Dozen” will be published in a Workers’ Memorial Week report from National COSH, to be released in April 2018.

Workers’ Memorial Week, which will take place this year from Monday, April 23 through Monday, April 30, is observed in the U.S. and worldwide by workers and their families, unions, worker centers, COSH groups and many others. The event honors workers who have lost their lives on the job, those who have suffered preventable occupational injuries and illnesses and the families of these workers. It will be marked by candlelight vigils, memorial services rallies, the release of reports and other actions. Many observances will take place on April 28, which marks the day the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Act took effect in 1971.

The 2016-2017 “Dirty Dozen,” released by National COSH in April 2017, included companies in agriculture, food processing, manufacturing, retail, service transportation and other industries.

“We’re especially interested in companies where workers are joining together to fight for better working conditions,” said Marcy Goldstein-Gelb, also a co-executive director of National COSH. “We’re also taking a close look this year at employers who have failed to prevent sexual abuse and harassment in the workplace. Abusive behavior is a well-known workplace hazard and like other hazards, it can be prevented with education, training and rigorous enforcement.” 

National COSH links the efforts of local worker health and safety coalitions in communities across the United States, advocating for elimination of preventable hazards in the workplace. For more information, please visit NationalCOSH.org. Follow us at National Council for Occupational Safety and Health on Facebook and @NationalCOSH on Twitter.